August 18th is International Never Give Up Day. This day is a global celebration of cultivating a mindset of determination. Our experiences working and living with people affected by the opioid epidemic brings us into daily contact with those who “never give up.” This is a day to celebrate them! Go to https://www.nevergiveupday.com/10-best-things-to-do/ for some … Read more
July 24th is National Parents Day. It is meant to recognize “outstanding parents, celebrate the teamwork in raising children, and support the role of parental guidance in building a strong, stable society.” Those involved in work with substance use disorders know that parenting with an SUD is difficult for the entire family. In 2017, there … Read more
The Fourth of July! Independence Day! July brings one of the biggest holidays of the year and a favorite party weekend for summer. While we enjoy the cookouts, fireworks, and other fun activities, these festivities can be triggers for people living in recovery, especially those that are in the early phases. Numerous recovery program websites … Read more
May 10th is set to be the first ever National Fentanyl Awareness Day. The aim is to raise awareness about illicit fentanyl in counterfeit pills and illicit drugs that has been the primary cause in recent increases in overdose deaths, particularly among 14-to-23-year-olds. The call-to-action is simple: spread the word on social media with the … Read more
May 8-14 is National Prevention Week (NPW) sponsored by SAMHSA. The purpose of NPW is to provide a national public education platform to bring together communities and organizations to raise awareness about the importance of substance use prevention and positive mental health. May 8th not only kicks off NPW but is also National Prevention Day. … Read more
April 4th-10th is National Public Health Week. The opioid epidemic is a priority for many public health institutions, such as the CDC, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Office of the Surgeon General, to name a few. One of RCORP’s objectives is to expand harm reduction programs in our rural communities. Harm … Read more
April is Stress Awareness Month. While observed mostly in the UK, recognizing stress as a potential stumbling-block to well-being is certainly a worldwide endeavor. When applying it to our RCORP community, untreated stress has long been recognized as a driving element to initial substance misuse and relapse. Learning stress management skills not only helps individuals … Read more
March 30 is World Bipolar Day. A 2016 SAMHSA Advisory reports that rates of SUD are high among people with bipolar disorder. Research suggests that from 30%-50% of people with bipolar disorder will develop a SUD. On March 30, the organizers of World Bipolar Day encourage those with social media accounts to share the hashtags … Read more
It has been estimated that nearly 2/3 of inmates in US jails and prisons have a substance use disorder. Historically, SUDs have not been addressed by the prison system while a person is incarcerated. This contributes to a cycle of recidivism that’s detrimental, not only to the individual and their loved ones, but also to … Read more
February is Black History Month. This presents an opportunity to shine a light on the toll that substance use and mental health disorders can have on Black/African American communities. While occurrence rates are similar in all populations, quality treatment options are less accessible for Black/African Americans. The rate of increase of Black/African American drug overdose … Read more
